Expect the Unexpected: The Art of Surprising Your Audience

One of the keys to successful comedy is knowing how to play with expectations in order to surprise your audience and make them laugh. By taking what people think is going to happen and turning it on its head, you can create moments of unexpected humor that are both delightful and memorable.

What Does it Mean to Play with Expectations?

When we talk about playing with expectations, we mean taking familiar concepts, situations, or storylines and putting a new and unexpected twist on them. It’s about taking what your audience already knows or thinks they know and using it against them in a surprising and funny way.

This can take many forms, from subverting common tropes and clichés to creating plot twists and reversals that challenge your audience’s assumptions. When you play with expectations, you’re inviting your audience to join you on a journey of discovery, where the punchline is the destination and the journey itself is full of delightful surprises.

Why is Playing with Expectations So Effective?

There are several reasons why playing with expectations is such an effective tool in the comedian’s arsenal:

It creates anticipation: When you start a joke or a story, your audience immediately starts to anticipate where it’s going. By playing with expectations, you keep them on their toes and make them eager to see where things are headed.
It catches people off guard: When you subvert expectations, you create a moment of cognitive dissonance that catches your audience off guard. This can be funny in and of itself, but it also makes your punchline much more effective because it comes as a surprise.
It engages your audience: When you play with expectations, you’re not just telling jokes or stories – you’re involving your audience in a shared experience. By inviting them to join you on a journey of discovery, you create a sense of camaraderie that makes the laughs even more satisfying.

How Can You Start Playing with Expectations?

Playing with expectations can seem daunting at first, but it’s a skill that can be learned and honed over time. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Think outside the box: When you’re writing jokes or stories, challenge yourself to come up with ideas that are unexpected or even absurd. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try something new.
Use misdirection: Misdirection is a powerful tool in comedy. By directing your audience’s attention one way, you can set them up for a surprise in another direction.
Embrace the unexpected: Sometimes, the best material comes from real-life situations that take unexpected turns. Keep your eyes and ears open for moments of surprise in everyday life and use them as inspiration for your comedy.
Practice: Like any skill, playing with expectations takes practice. Keep trying new things and experimenting with different techniques until you find what works best for you.

The Bottom Line

Playing with expectations is a powerful tool in the comedian’s arsenal. By taking what people think they know and turning it on its head, you can create moments of unexpected humor that are both delightful and memorable. With practice and dedication, anyone can learn to play with expectations and use it as a tool to create unforgettable comedic moments.

Breaking the Mold: How to Play with Clichés in Comedy

The problem with clichés

Clichés are phrases or ideas that have been overused to the point of losing their original meaning or impact. While they can be useful for conveying a familiar concept, clichés can also be a crutch for lazy writing, relying on a pre-existing idea rather than creating something new and fresh. In comedy specifically, clichés can lead to predictable and boring jokes that rely on the audience’s recognition rather than their surprise.

Why playing with expectations can be funny

One way to break out of the rut of cliché comedy is to use the concept of “playing with expectations.” This involves setting up a familiar scenario or cliché and then subverting the audience’s expectations in some way. By teasing the audience with what they think will happen and then surprising them with something unexpected, comedians can create laughter through the release of tension and surprise.

Examples of playing with expectations

One example of playing with expectations is taking a cliché phrase and flipping its meaning. Instead of saying “actions speak louder than words,” a comedian might say “words speak louder than actions” and then elaborate on the absurdity of the idea. Another example is taking a familiar setup and veering off in an unexpected direction: “A man walks into a bar…and immediately leaves because he’s a recovering alcoholic.” By subverting the expected punchline, the comedian creates a new twist that surprises and delights the audience.

Challenges and considerations

Playing with expectations can be difficult and requires a certain level of skill from the comedian. Not every twist will be successful, and sometimes the joke will fall flat if the setup is too predictable or the audience doesn’t buy into the scenario. Additionally, some audiences may be resistant to unconventional humor and prefer more straightforward jokes. However, with practice and experimentation, comedians can hone their ability to play with expectations and create unique and memorable comedy.

By breaking free from clichés and playing with expectations, comedians can create exciting and original material that surprises and delights their audiences. Whether flipping the script on familiar phrases or taking a joke in a completely unexpected direction, playing with expectations is a powerful tool in the comedian’s arsenal.

Flip the Script: Using Reversals to Create Hilarious Twists

When it comes to comedy, playing with expectations is key. One effective technique is to use reversals, which involve taking the audience’s expectations and flipping them on their head. This unexpected twist can lead to some of the most hilarious moments in comedy, and here’s how you can do it.

What are Reversals in Comedy?

Reversals are comedic techniques that involve setting up an expectation in the audience’s mind and then subverting it with an unexpected twist. This technique is rooted in surprise and can lead to big laughs when executed correctly. Essentially, the goal with reversals is to flip the script and go against what the audience is expecting to happen.

Examples of Reversals in Comedy

There are numerous examples of reversals in comedy, ranging from simple one-liners to more elaborate setups. Here are a few examples:

The Misdirect: This is a classic reversal technique that involves setting up an expectation in the audience’s mind and then shifting the focus to something unexpected. For example, a comedian might say, “I went to the zoo the other day and saw a giraffe. It was so tall that I…” and then pause before saying “forgot my sunglasses.” The audience is expecting a punchline about the giraffe’s height, but the misdirect catches them off guard.
The Role Reversal: This technique involves flipping the expected roles of the characters in the joke. For example, a comedian might say, “My wife is the breadwinner in our family. She brings home the bacon while I…” and then pause before saying “cook it.” The role reversal of the wife being the primary breadwinner is unexpected and leads to a funny twist.
The Twist Ending: This is a reversal technique that involves setting up a joke with a clear direction and then changing course at the last moment. For example, a comedian might say, “I was walking down the street the other day and saw a sign that said ‘Watch for children.’ I thought to myself, ‘That’s a fair trade.'” The initial setup leads the audience to believe that the comedian is going to make a joke about children being a nuisance, but the twist at the end turns it on its head and leads to a big laugh.

How to Use Reversals in Your Comedy

If you want to incorporate reversals into your comedic routine, there are a few steps you can take:

Think Outside the Box: Look for opportunities to play with your audience’s expectations. Consider common phrases or situations that could be flipped on their head for comedic effect.
Set up the Expectation: Make sure you establish a clear expectation in your audience’s mind before subverting it. This will help ensure that the reversal has maximum impact.
Timing is Everything: Reversals are all about surprise, so make sure you time your punchline perfectly. Don’t rush the setup, but don’t let it drag on either.
Practice Makes Perfect: Reversals can be tricky, so it’s important to practice your delivery to ensure that the punchline lands every time.

Using reversals in your comedy can be a highly effective way to play with your audience’s expectations. By taking what they think they know and flipping it on its head, you can create some of the funniest moments in comedy. So the next time you’re writing or performing, consider incorporating this technique to take your comedy to the next level.

Timing is Everything: Mastering Pacing and Delivery for Maximum Laughs

As the old saying goes, timing is everything. This is especially true when it comes to comedy. Understanding how to manipulate time in your comedy routine can make the difference between a mediocre performance and one that has your audience roaring with laughter. In this article, we will explore the art of playing with expectations through pacing and delivery.

What is pacing?

In comedy, pacing refers to the speed at which you tell your jokes and deliver your punchlines. The pace of your routine can greatly affect how your audience receives your material. If you tell your jokes too quickly, your audience may miss the punchline or not have enough time to fully process the humor. On the other hand, if you deliver your jokes too slowly, your audience may lose interest or become bored.

The importance of delivery

Delivery is also an important aspect of comedy. How you deliver your jokes can greatly impact how they are received by your audience. Your delivery should match the tone of your material. If you are telling a joke that is meant to be silly or absurd, your delivery should reflect that. Similarly, if you are telling a joke that is meant to be sarcastic or ironic, your delivery should reflect that as well.

Playing with expectations

Playing with expectations is a key component of comedy. One of the best ways to do this is through pacing and delivery. By increasing or decreasing the pace of your routine at unexpected times, you can catch your audience off guard and create moments of surprise.

For example, you could start a joke off slowly, allowing your audience to settle in and relax. Then, just when they think they know where the joke is going, you increase the pace and deliver the punchline quickly, catching them off guard and eliciting a bigger laugh.

The power of the pause

Another effective way to play with expectations is through the use of pauses. A well-timed pause can create tension and build anticipation in your audience. This can be especially effective when delivering a punchline or revealing a surprise twist.

For example, you could pause before delivering the punchline of a joke, allowing your audience to anticipate what is coming next. This pause can increase the impact of the punchline and create a bigger laugh.

The art of comedy is all about playing with expectations and keeping your audience on their toes. By mastering pacing and delivery, you can create moments of surprise and delight for your audience, resulting in maximum laughs. Remember to experiment with different pacing techniques and to match your delivery to the tone of your material. With practice and persistence, you can become a master of comedic timing.

Going Against the Grain: How Embracing the Absurd Can Lead to Comic Gold

As kids, we were taught to always make sense. Making sense in conversations, in school, and in life was always the norm. But in comedy, throwing out sense and embracing the ridiculous can lead to some of the funniest moments.

The Power of Playing with Expectations

The key to embracing the absurd is to play with expectations. People expect certain things to happen in a conversation, a story, or a joke. By subverting those expectations, you create a sense of surprise that can lead to great laughter.

Think of a classic knock-knock joke. The listener expects a silly punchline at the end, but by adding a surprising twist, you can elevate it to something truly funny. For example, “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Boo.” “Boo who?” “Don’t cry, it’s just a joke!”

Breaking the Mold: Using Clichés in Comedy

Clichés can be boring, but leaning into them can also create great comedy. By breaking the mold of a cliché, you can create something new and refreshing.

For example, the cliché of a superhero saving the world has been done countless times. But by breaking the mold and creating a superhero who is afraid of heights, you add a new dimension and create room for comedy. This is the basis for the popular movie “Megamind.”

Timing is Everything: Mastering Pacing and Delivery for Maximum Laughs

Embracing the absurd doesn’t mean you have to be chaotic. Pacing and delivery are key to making sure the surprise hits at the right time.

Take the classic “Who’s on First” sketch by Abbott and Costello. The wordplay and pacing build up the surprise and lead to one of the funniest punchlines in comedy history. By taking your time and delivering the absurd moment with precision, you ensure maximum laughter.

Going Against the Grain: The Power of Embracing the Absurd

Comedy is all about subverting expectations and embracing the unexpected. By going against the grain, you can create something unique and memorable.

The next time you’re writing a joke, telling a story, or just having a conversation with friends, think about how you can play with expectations and embrace the absurd. You never know, it might just lead to some comic gold.